N2 Contrast and Comparison

~一方いっぽうで: meaning, usage and examples

~一方いっぽうで means: on the other hand... / while...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 便利べんりな一方いっぽうで、危険きけんも多おおい。

   While it's convenient, there are also many dangers.

2. 彼かれは優やさしい一方いっぽうで、厳きびしい面めんもある。

   On one hand he's kind, but he also has a strict side.

3. 在宅ざいたく勤務きんむが増ふえる一方いっぽうで、運動うんどう不足ふそくに悩なやむ人ひとも多おおい。

   While more people work from home, many also struggle with a lack of exercise.

4. 田中たなかさんは会社かいしゃで働はたらく一方いっぽうで、夜よるは大学だいがくに通かよっている。

   Mr. Tanaka works at a company, and at night he attends university.

When to use it

Places two facts side by side: "while X, on the other hand Y". It can contrast two sides of one thing, two different groups, or two activities done in parallel: 仕事しごとをする一方いっぽうで、夜よるは学校がっこうに通かよっている (works and, at the same time, goes to school at night). It is common in reports and opinion writing.

Nuance

Neutral to formal; very common in news and essays. The two facts do not have to be opposites, just different aspects. When it contrasts groups, it is objective and balanced rather than emotional.

Compare

反面はんめん contrasts opposite qualities of the same thing: 便利べんりな反面はんめん、高たかい. 一方いっぽうで can also link different subjects or parallel actions: 兄あには外そとで遊あそぶ一方いっぽうで、弟おとうとは本ほんを読よむ. Sentence-final Verb + 一方いっぽうだ is a different pattern meaning "keeps getting more and more": 物価ぶっかは上あがる一方いっぽうだ.

Tip: 反面はんめん = one thing, two sides. 一方いっぽうで = two sides or two things. Do not confuse with sentence-final 一方いっぽうだ.